Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 24, 1895, Page 20

CHRONICLES —OF— COUNT ANTONIO BY ANTHONY HOPE. “A Prisoner of Zenda, Author of Copyright, 1804, by A nthony Hope, CHAPTER V. J COUNT ANTONIO AND THE SACRED BONES, One tale there is concerning Count Antonio of Monte Velluto, when he dwelt an outlaw in the hills, which men tell with fear and doubt, marvelllng at the audacity of his act, and sometimes asking themselves whether he would in very truth have performed what he swere on the faith of his honor he would do it he did not attaln what he de- manded of the duke. For the thing he threatened was such as no man of Fornlola dsre think on without a shudder, for we of Fornlola prize and reverence the bones cf our saint, the holy martyr, Prisian, above and far beyond every other relic, and they are to us, as it were, the sign and testimony of God's enduring favor to our country. But much will a man do for love of a woman, and Antonio's temper brooked no obstacl 80 that none know all the truth of the mat- ter. I may not doubt that he would have done even as he sald, braving the wrath of heaven, and making naught of the terror and consternation that had fallen cn the city and parts round about it. Whether that thought of his heart was one that would gain pardon, T know not; had the thing been done 1 could scarce hope, even in heaven's infinite mercy. Yet thie story, aleo, T must tell, lest 1 be charged with covering up what shames Antonio, for with the opinions of careless and fa'thless men (of whom there are too many in this later age), I have no communion, and I tell the tale not to move laughter or loose jests, but rather to show to what extremity a man, by nature good, may be driven by harshness and the unmerited disfavor of his prince. In the third year, then, of Count Antonlo's outlawry his highness the duke looked upon the Lady Lucia and found that she was of full age for marriage. Therefore, he resolved that she should be wed, and since Robert de Beauregard, to whom he bad propoced to give her, was dead, he chose from among his lords a certain gentleman of great estate, by name Lorenzo, and sent word to Lucia that she had spent too much of her youth pining for what could not be hers, and must forthwith receive Lorenzo for her husband. But Lucia, being by now a woman and no more a timid girl, returned to his highness & message that she would look on no other man than Antonio; on this the duke, greatly Incensed, sent and took her and set her in a convent within the city walls, and made her known that there she would abide till her life's end, or until she would obey his command; and he charged the abbess to treat her harshly and to break down her pride; and he swore that she should wed Lorenzo, or, if she were obstinate, then she should take the vows of a nun in the convent. Many weeks the Lady Lucia abode In the convent, resisting all that was urged upon her. But at iast, finding no help from Antonlo, being sore beset and allowed no rest, she broke one day into passionate and pitiful weeping, and bade the abbess tell his highness that, since happiness was not for her in this world, she would seek to find it in heaven, and would take the vows, rendering all her estate into the duke's hand, that he might have it and give It to Lorenzo, or to whom he would. Which message being told to Duke Valentine, weary of contending with her, and perchance eecretly fearing that Antonio would slay Lorenzo as he had slain Robert, he cursed her for an obstinate wench, and bade her take the vows, and set a day for her to taRe them; bue her estate he assumed into his own hand, and made a gift of great value to Lorenzo. And.Lorenzo, they say, was well content thus to be quit of the mat- ter. “For,” said he, “‘while that devil is loose in the hills, no peace would there have been for the lady's husband.” But when it came to the ears of Count Antonio that the Lady Lucla was to take the 'vell on the morrow of the feast of St. Prisian, his rage and affliction knew no bounds. “If need be,” he cried, “I will attack the lzlly with all my men before I will suffer “Your men would all be killed, and she ‘would take the veil none the less,” said Tom- masino. For Antonio had but fifty men, and although they were stout fellows and impos- sible to subdue so long as they stayed In the hills, yet their strength would have been nothing against a fortress and the duke's array. ““Then,"” said Antonio, “I will go alone and die alone. As he spoke he percelved Martolo coming to him, and calling him he asked him what he would. Now, Martolo was a devout man, and had been much grieved when An- tonfo fell under the sentence of excommuni- cation; yet he abode with him. And now he bowed and answered: “My lord, in three days it is the feast of St. Prislan, and the sacred bones will then be carried from the !llrl:\c in the church of the saint at Rilano to the eity.” For it was at Rilano that Prisian had suffered, and a rich church had been built on the spot. “I remember that it is wont to be so, Mar- tolo,” answered the count. “When I dwelt with my father,” said Mar- tolo, “1 was accustomed to go forth with all the people of my village and meet the sacred bones, and, kneeling, receive the benediction from the lord archbishop as he passed, bear- Ing the bones in their gollen casket. And the like would T do this year, my lord. “‘But are you not excommunicated, in com- pany with Count Antonlo and me?" asked Tommasino, lightly smiling. “I pray not. 1 wes not named in the sen- tence,” said Martolo, signing the cross. “Go in peace, Martolo, but see that you are not taken by the duke's men,"” said Count Antonio. “‘But few of them go with the archbishop, my lord. For who would lay hands on the sacred bones? The guard is small, and I #shall easlly elude them. artolo de- THE DUKE PACED UP AND DOWN. .. iparted, and told the man they called Bena What had pazeed, but Bens was a graceless fellow, and would not go with him. Now when Martolo was gone Count An tonlo gat down on a great stone, and for a long while sald nothing to Tommwasino. But certaln words out of those which Martolo had, spoken were echoing through hLis brain, and he could not put them aside, for they cawme ugain, aud again and again, and at last, lookis , he sald Tommasine, who would lay han sacred bones Tomuwasino looked down Into his then he lald a haud on his shoulder, tonio still looked up and repeated nd An- up at Tommasino, who steod by | on the | eyes; | “Who | ‘would lay hauds on the sacred bones?” Tommasino's eyes grow round o wonder; Bto, he smiled, but his smile was uneasy, and he shifted his fect. “Is It that you think of Antonio?” he asked in a low voice. “Beside it, it would be a light thing to kil the duke in his own palace,” Then Antono cried, striking his fist on the palm of his hand: “Are dead bones more sacred than that living soul, on which the duke lays hands to force it to his will?" “The people reverence the bones as himself,” said Tommasino, troubled. “I also reverence them,” sald Antonlo, and fell again into thought. But presently he rose and took Tommasino’s arm, and for a long while they walked to and fro. Then they went and sought out certain chosen n of the band—for the greater part they o not 'frust in such a matter, but turned only to them that were boldest and recked least of sacred things. And to ten of such Antonio opened his counsel, and by great re wards he prevailed on them to come into the plan, although they were, for all their bold- ness, very sore afraid lest they, laying hands on the bones, should be smitten as was he who touched the ark of the covenant. There- fore Antonlo said: “I alone will lay hands on the golden_cas- ket; the rest of you shall but hold me harm- less while I take it." “But it the lord archbishop will not let it g0?" “The lord archbishop,” said Tommasino, “will let it go.” For Tommasino did not love the archbishop, because he would not re- move the sentence of excommunication, which he had laid upon Antonio and Tommasino on the prayer of the abbot of St. Prisian's. Now, when the feast of St. Prisian was come the lord archbishop, who had ridden from the city on the eve of the feist, and had lodged in the house of the priests who served the hurch, went with all his train into the church, and, with the rest standing afar off and ing their eyes, took from the wall of the church, near by the high al- tar, the golden ket that held the bones of the blessed St. Prisian. And he wrapped the casket in a rich cloth, and held it high before “him in_ his two hands. And when the people had worshipped the archbishop left the church and entered his chair, and passed through the village of Rilano, the priests and atendants going first, and twelve of the duke's guards, whom the duke hal sent, 'folbwing after. Great was the throng of folk’ ¢ome from all the country round, to gaze upon the casket, and in the proces- sion of ‘the lord archibishop and most de- vout of them all was Martolo, who rested on his kndes from the moment the procession left the church till it was clear of the village. And Martolo was still on his knees when he beheld go by him a party of peasants, all, save one, tall and powerful men, wearing peasants’ garb, and having their faces over- shadowed by large hats. These men had knelt as the casket passed, but they had risen and were marching shoulder to shoulder behind the men of the duke's guard, a peasant behind every pikeman. Martolo gazed long at them, then he moistened his lips and crossed himself, —murmuring: “What does this thing mean? Now God forbid——!" And breaking off thus, he also arose and went to the house of his father, sore vexed and troub'ed to know what the thing might mean. But he spoke of it to none, no, not to his father, observing the vow of secrecy in all matters which he had made to Count Antonio. At the bounds of the village the greater part of the people ceased to follow the pro- cession of the sacred bones, and, having received the archbishop's blessing, turned back to their own homes, where they feasted and' made merry; but the twelve peasants whom Martolo had seen followed the pro- cession when it set forth for the next vil- lage, distant three: miles on the road to Fornlola, Their air manifested great de- votlon, for ' they walked with heads bent on their breasts and downcast eyes, and they spoke not once on the way; but each kept close behind a pikeman. When the proces- sfon had gone something more than a mile from the village of Rilano it came where a little stream crosses the bighway; and, the rains having been heavy the week before, the stream was swellen and the ford deeper than it was wont to be. Therefore, the of- ficer of the guard, thinking of no danger, bade six of his men lay down their pikes and go lift the archbishop's chair over the ford, lest he should b2 wetted by the water. And on hearing this order the talest among the peasants put his hand up to his liat and twisted the feather of it between his thumb and his forefinger; and the shortest of them whispered: “The sign! the sign!” while every man of them drew a great dag- ger from under his habit and held it behind his back. Now, by this time the priests and attendants had passed the ford, and one-half the guard had lain down their pikes and were gone to raise the archbishop's chair, the remainder standipg at their ease, leaning on their pikes and talking to one another. Again the tallest peasant twisted the feather in his hat, and, without speech or cry, the peasantg darted forward. Six of them seized the pijes.that lay on the ground, the remain- ing six Jedped like wildeats on the backs of the, pikemen, circling the necks of the pike- men’ will their arms, pulling them back, and caming fiear to throttling them, so that the pikpmpen, utterly amazed and taken full at disadyantage, staggered and fell backward, while the peasants got on top of them and knelt, on their breasts and set the great dag- gers at their hearts. While this passed on the, Foad, the remainder of Antonio's band— for ‘such were the peasants—rushed into the stream and compelled the unarmed pikemen to set down the archbishop's chair in the midst, so that the waters came in at the windows of the chair, and the procession, hield at bay with their own pikes, sought to draw their poinards, but Antonio cried: “Slay any that draw!” And he came to the chair and opened the door of it, and, using as little force as he could, he lald hands on the casket that held the sacred bones and wrested it from the feeble hands of the archbishop. Then he and his men, standing in line, stepped backward, with the pikes levelled in front of them, till they came out of the water and onto ihe dry road again; and one pikeman rushed at Antenio, but Tom- masino, sparing to kill him, caught him a buffet on the side of the head with a pike and he fell Jike a log in the water, and had been drowned but that two of his comrades lifted him. Then all twelve of the band being together—for the first six had risen now from off the pikemen, having forced them, on pain of instant death, to deliver over their p'kes to them. Antonio, with the casket in his hands, spoke in a loud voice: “I thank God that no man is dead over this busingss, but if you resist you shall die one and/all. Go to the city, tell the duke that I, /Antonio di Monte Velluto, have the bones of the blessed St. Prisian, and carry them with me to my hiding place In the highest part of the hills, But if he will swear by these bones that 1 hold and by his princely word that he will not suffer the Lady Lucia to take the vows, nor will cox strain her to wed any man, but will restore her to her own house and fo her estate, then let him send the archb'shop again and I will deliver up the sacred bones. But if e will not swear, then, as God lives, to- morrow at midoght I will cause a great fire to be kindled on the top of the hills—a fire whose flanies you shall eee from the walls of the clty—and in that fire will I consume the sacred hones, and I will seatter the ashes of them to the four winds. Go and bear the | message that 1 glve you to the duke Aud having thus sald, Antonio, with his | men, turned and went back at & run whence they had come; but to the village of Rilano they did not go; hut turned eside before they came to it, and, coming to the farm of oue who knew ‘Antonio, they bought of him, pa ing him in good ‘coin of the duchy, three | horses which Antonio, Tommasing and Bena | mounted, and they three rode hard for the hills, the rest followlng as quickly as taey | might, 50 that by nightfall they wera all | safely assembled in their hiding place, and | with them the bones of the blessed st. Pris fan. But they told not yet to (he reat of tel band what it was that Antonio carried nnder his eloak, nor did Martolo, when he roturned | from RMano, ask what had befallen, but he | crossed himself many times and wore a fear. ful lock. But ‘ 1asing came 1o Antonio God | and wringing their hands and saying | of water, toward THE YOMANA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1893 answered An- nothing for my- 1 a8k for you or my me, 1 have done already tonfo. ““Therefors 1 will & #elt, and nothing M friends. But if 1 .¢ othifg but that right and justice be dong, it may be that my sin n IulyInl hands on the sacred bones will be e less." Now after Antonjo and his men were gone, the archbishop's train staved long by the stream in the road, lamenting and fearing to go forward, and being come to the next vil- lage, found all the people awailing them at the bounds, And when the people saw the disorder of the procession, and that the pike. men had no pikes, they ran forward eagerly, asking what had befallen; and learning of the calamity, they were greatly afraid; and cursed Antonfo; and many of them accompa- nied the archbishop on his way to the city, where he came toward evening, and a great concourse of people awalted his coming there, and the duke himself sat on a lofty seat in the great square, prepared to receive the s cred bones and go with them to the cathe- dral, where they were to be exposd to the gaze of the people at high mass. And they set the archbishop's chair down before the duke's seat, and the archbighop came and stood before the duke, and his priests ana pikemen with him. And the duke started up from his seat, crying: “What ails you?" and sank back again, and sat waiting to hear what the archbishop would say. Then the archbishop, his rohes still damp and greatly disordered, his limbs - trembling in anger and in fear, raised his voice; and all the multitude in the equare were silent while he declared to his highness what things Count Antonio had done and rehearsed the message that he had sent. And when the archbishop told how Antonlo had sworn that as God liveth he would scatter the ashes of the sacred bones to the winds, the men caught their breath with a gasp and the women murmured affrightedly “Chrigt save s, and Duke Valentine dug the nails of his hand wherecn his head rested into the flesh of his checks. For all the city held that according to the words St. Prisian had uttered before he suffered the power and prosperity of the duchy and the favor of heaven to it rested in the presence among them, and the faithful preservation and ven- eration of those most holy relics. And the archbishop, having ended the message, cried, “God, pardon my lips that repeat such words,” and fell on his knees before Duke Valentine, crying: “Justice on him, my lord, justice!” Afid many in the throng echoed his cry, but others, and among them many of the apprenticed lads, who loved Antonio, muttered low one to another, ‘‘But the duke has taken the eweetheart from him,” and they looked on the “duke with no favorable looks. Then Duke Valentine rose from his seat and stood on the topmost step of i, and he called sundry of his lords and officers around him, and then he betkoned for silence and he said: “Before the sun sets tomorrow the Lady Lucia shall take the vows,” and he, with his train, took their way, the pikemen clearing a path for them, to the palace. And now, in- deed, was silence, and all marvelled and were struck dumb that the duke said naught concerning the bones of St. Prisian, and they searched one another’s faces for the meaning of his words. But the archbishop arose, and speaking to no man, went to the cathedral Poter bo still, cursing him for In- solence, and shouted that the people should disperse on pain of his highness' dis- pleasure, “‘Where is the duke? Let him come out to us!” cried Peter, and the cap- tain, despising him, struck him lightly with the flat of his sword. But Peter, with a cry of rage, struck the captain a great blow with hie staft, and the captain_ staggered back, blood flowing from his head. Such was the beginning of the fray, for in an instant the plkemen and the people had joined battle; men cried in anger and women in fright; blood flowed, and many on both sides feli and rose no more, and the archbishop came near to being trodden under foot, till his friends and the priests gathered round him, and when he sww that men ‘were being slain he wept, Then the Lot Lorenzo hastened to the cabinet of the dmke, whom he found pacing up and downs gmawing his finger nails, and told him of what was done outside. “1 care not,” eaid the duke. ‘‘She shall take the vowst Let the pikemen scatter them.” Lorenzo them besought him, telling him that all the ecity was in arms, and_that the conflict would be great. But the duke sald stiil: “She shall take the vows!” Never- theless he went with Lorenzo, and came forth on to thel topmost step of the portico, And when the people saw him they ceased for a moment to assail the pikemen, and crfed out: “Give us back the sacred bones.'’ “Scatter those fellows!” said the duke to the captain of the guard. “My lord, thoy are too many. And If we scatter themonow, yet when we have gone against Count Antonio they may do what they will with the city.” The duke stood still, pale and again gnaw- Ing his nails, and the pikemen, finding the fight hard, gave back before the people, and the people presred on, Then Peter, the furrier, came forward, and the hottest with him, and mocked the pikemen; and one of the pikemen suddenly thrust Peter through with his pike, and the fellow fell dead, on which a great cry of rage rose from all the people, and they rushed on the pikemen again and slew and were slain; and the fight rolled up the steps, even to the very feet of the duke himself. And at last, able no longer to contend with all the city, he cried: “Hold! I will restore the sacred bones!” But the people would not trust him, and one cried: “Bring out the lady here before us and set her free or we will burn the palace.” And the archbishop came suddenly and threw himself on his knees before the duke, besceching him that no more blood might be shed, but that the Lady Lucia should be set free. And the duke, now greatly afraid, sent hastily to the lieutenant of the guard and ten men who came to the convent where Lucia was, and, brooking no delay, carried her with them in her bedgown and brought and set her beside the duke in the portico of the palace. And the duke raised his hand to heaven, and before all the people he said: “Behold, she is free! Let her go to her own house, and her estate shall be hers again. And by my princely word and these same holy bones I swear that she shall not take the vows, neither will I constrain her to wed any man.” And when he had said this he turned sharply around on his heel, and, looking neither to the right mor to the left, went "ANTONIO CARRIES OFF THE CASKET. and knelt there before the altar in the chapel of St. Prisian, and there abode on his knees, Surely never, from that day until this hour, has such a night passed in the -city of Forniola. For the duke sent orders for every man of his guard to be ready to start at break of day in pursuit of Antonio, and through the hours of the night they were busied in preparing their. pravisions and ac- coutrements. But their looks were heavy and thelr tongues tied, for they knew, every man of them, that, though the duke might at the end take Antonio, yet he could not come at him before the time that Antonio had said. And this the townsmen knew well also, and they gathered themgelves In groups in the great square saying: Hefore the duke comes at him the sacred borles will be burned, and what will then befall the duchy?”’ And thoso who were friendly to Antonio, foremost among them being the apprenticed lads, spread themselves here and there among the people, asking cunningly whether it concerned the people of Forniola more that the blessing of St. Prisian should abide with them or that a reluctant maiden should be obliged to take a vell, and some grew bold to whisper under their breath that the business was a foul one, and that heaven did not send beauty and love that priests should bury them in convent walls. And the girls of the city, ever most bold by reason of their helpless- ness, stirred up the young men who courted them, leading them on and saying: ‘“‘He {s a true lover who risks his soul for his love," or “I would I had one who would steal the bones of St. Prisian for my sake, but none of such have 1," with other stirring and in- flaming taunts, reckiessly flung from pouting lips and under eyes that challenged. And all the while Duke Valentine sat alone in his cabinet, listening to the tumult that sounded with muffled din through the walls of the palace. Now there was in the eity a certain furrier named Peter, a turbulent fellow, who had been put out of his craft guild because he would not abide by the laws of the craft, and lived now as he best could, being maintained 1n large measure by those who listened to his empty and seditious conversation. This man, loving naught that was worthy of love in Count Antonio, yet loved him because he de- fled the duke, and about midnight, having drunk much wine, he came into the square and gathered together the apprentices, say- ing: “I have a matter to say to.you—and to you—and to you," till there were many scores of them around him. Then h2 harangued them, and more came round; and when at lust Peter cried: “Give us back the sacred bones,” a thousand volces answered him: “Aye, give us back the bones!" And when the pikemen would have seized him, men and and women also made a ring around him, so that he could not be taken. And sober men also, of age, and substance, hearkened to him, saying: “He is a knave, but he speaks truth now, S0 that a very great throng as- sembled, every man having a staff and many also knives; and to those who had not knives the women and girls brought them, thrust- ing them into their hands. Nay, sundry priests also were among the people, moaning hat the favor of St. Prisian would be lost forever to the city. And the square was thronged so that a man could not move unless all moved, nor raise his hand to his head save by the favor of his nelghber. Yet presently the whole mass beganito,move, liks a great wave e palace of the duke, where the pikewen #00d in ravks, ready now to go against, Antgnlo, | Suddenly arose a cry: “ibe archbishop comes! and the ven- erable man was seen, Jed through the crowd by Peter and some more, who brought him and m’ lt him: “Why-didl you not ask also pardon for all of us, and for yourscll the hand of Lueia?’ “A great thivg and a thiug that troubles and set him in the front ranks of the peo- ple; and Petey gried, bolddp: “Where is the duke?’ But the eaptain of the guard came forward, eword n band, and bade through the great hall to his cabinet and shut the door. For his heart was very sore that he must yield to Antonio’s demand, and, for himself, he had rather a thousand tims that the bones of St. Prisian had been burned. Now, when the duke was gone, the people brought the Lady Lucla to her own house, driving out the steward whom the duke had set there, and this done, they came to the archbishop and would not suffer him to rest nor to delay ome hour before he set forth to carry the dukée's promise to Antonio. This the archbishop was ready to do, for all that he was weary. But first he sent Lorenzo to ask the duke's pleasure, and Lorenzo, coming to the duke, prayed him to send 200 pikes with the archbishop. *For,” said he, “your highness has sworn nothing concern- ing what shall befall Antonio, and so soon as he has delivered up the bones I will set upon him and. bring him alive or dead to your highness.” But the duke would not hearken. “The fellow's name s like stale lees of wine in my mouth,” said he. “Ten of my pikemen lie dead in the square, and more of citizens. I will lose no more men over Yet how great a thing if we could take him!” “I' will take him at my own time and in my own way,” sald the duke. “In God's name, leave me now."” Lorenzo therefore got leave from the duke for but ten men to go with the archbishop, and to go himself if he would. And thus they set out, exhorted by the people, Who followed them out beyond the bounds of the city, to make all speed. And when they were gone the people came back and took up the bodies of the dead, while the pikemen also took up the bodies of such of thelr comrades as were slain. Yet had Duke Valentine known what passed on the hills while the city was in tumult, it may not be doubted, for all his vexation, that he would have sent out the 200 whom Lorenzo asked; never had he a fafrer chance to take Antonio. For when the count and those who went with fHim to Rilano were asleep, Antonio’s head resting on the golden casket, a shepherd came to the rest of the band_and told ‘them what had been done, and how all the country was in an uproar. Then a debate arose among the band, for, though they were lawless men, yet they feared God, and (hought with great dread on what Antonto had sworn, o that presently they came all together and roused up An- tonio and said to him: “My lord, you have done much for us, and it may be that we have done somewhat for you. But we will not suffer the sacred bones 10 be burned and scattered to the winds.” “Except the duke yields I have sworn it, as God lives,”” answered Antonio. “We care) not. It shall not be—no—not though you dnd we die,” said they. said Antonio, bowing nis head. “In an hour sald they, “we will take the bones, if you will not yourself, my lord, send them baek.” “Again I hear,” sald Antonlo, bowing his ihead, and the band went back to the fire round whichi they had been sitting, all sa | Martolo. who esme and put his hand in An- tonia’s hand. | ““How nowy Martolo?’ asked Antonic “What you iwill, I will, my lord,” said Martolo, For ithough he trembled when he thought of the bones of St. Prisian, yet he | | clung always to Antonio. As for Bena and | the others of whe ten who had gone to Ri- | 1ano, they had burmed, not the bones only, but ‘the blessed saint him:elf, had Antonio bidden theml Hard wen, in truth, were they, and ckiess. Now, tho rest of the banl being gone back | 1o thelr £re, and the night belng very dark in great silence o ¢ caution Antenio, Tom “th masino, Martolo and their fellows—being thir- toen, In gll—rose from their places, and, tak- ing nau ith them but their swords, (save that Antonjo. carried the golden casket), they stole forth Trom the camp, and set their faces to climb yet higher into the heights of the hills. None spoke; one following another, they climbed the steep path that led up the moun< taln side, and when they had been going for thé space of an hour they heard a shout far below them. “Out filght is known,” said Tommasino. "Shn:‘l we stand and meet them, my lord?" ena. Nay, not yet,” sald Antonio, and the thirteen went forward again at the best speed they could. Now they were In a deep gorge between lofty cliffs, and the gorge still tended up- ward, and at length they came to the place which is now named “Antonio’s Neck.” There tho rocks came nigh to meeting and utterly barring the path; yet there Is a way that one man, or, at most, two, may pass through at one time. Along this narrow tongue they d, and, coming to the other side, found €l space on the edge of a great preci- and Antonio, pointing over the preci- they saw In (he light of the day, which was dawning, the towers and spires of :’nrni( la, a very far away In the plain be- ow, “It is a better place for the fire than the other,” sald Antonio, and Bena laughed, while Martolo shivered, et we risk being hindered b lows behind,” sa'd Tommasino. “Nay, 1 think not,” said Antonio. Then he charged Tommasino and all of them to busy themselves in collecting such dry sticks and brushwood as they could, and there was abundance near, for the fir trees grew even o high. And one of the men also went and set a snare, and presently caught a wild goat, €0 that they had meat. But Antonfo himself took Bena and set him on one side of the way where the neck opened out into lovel space, and he stood on the other side of the way himself. And when they stretched out their arms the pont of Bena's sword reached the hilt of Antonio's. And_Antonio smiled, saying to Bena: “He had need to be a thin man, ena, that passes between you and me.” And Bena nodded his his head at Count Antonlo, answering: “Indeed, this is as straight as the way to heaven, my lord, and leads, as it seems to me, in much the same direction.” Thus Antonio and Bena waited in the shelter of the rocks, at the opening of the neck, while the rest built up a great pile of wood. Then, having roasted the meat, they made their breakfast, Martolo carrying portions to Antonio and to Bena. And, their pursuers not knowing the path so well, and therefore moving less quickly, it was but three hours short of noon when they heard the, ¥ojces of men from the other side of the neck. And Anton'o cried straightway: “Come not through at your peril. Yet one may come and speak with me.” Then a great fellow, whose name is vari- ously given, though most of those whom I have questioned call him Sancho, came through the neck, and reaching the end of it found the crossed swords of Antonio and Bena like a fence against his breast. And he saw also the great pile of wood, and resting now on the top of it the golden casket that held the sacred bones. And he said to Antonio: “My lord, we love you; but scomer than that the bones should be burned, we will Kill you and all that are with you. And Antonio answered: “I also love you, Sancho; yet you and all your company shall die sooner than that my oath shall be broken,” Your soul shall answer for it, my lord,” said_Sancho. “You speak truly,” answered Antonio. The Sancho went back through the neck and took counsel with his followers; and they made him their chief, and promised to be obedient to all that he ordered. And he said: “Let two run at their highest speed through the neck; it may be well they will dle, but the bones must be saved. And after $HeTR Gie gpore, and agaln two. And I will be ‘of Pb Mrst two.” But they ‘would not suffer him to be of the first_{wo, although he prevailed that he should be of the last two. And the six being chiosen: drew their swords, and, with a cry, rushed Into he neck. And Antonio, hearing eot, sald ‘to Bena: ‘A" quick bow is as good as a slow, Bena.” And even as he spoke the first two came to the opening of the neck. But Antonio and Bena struck at them before they came out of the narrowest part or could wield their swords freely; and the second two com- ing on,/Btna struck at one and wounded him in the ‘breast; and he wounded Bena in the face, over the right eye; and then Bena slew him; while Antonfo slew his man at his first shove. tAnd the fifth man and San- chb, the sixth,” coming on, Antonio cried loudly: “Are you mad? We could hold the neck against a hundred.” But they would not stop, and Antonio slew the fifth,"und Bena was in the act to strike at Sancho, but Antonio suddenly dashed San- cho's swordl ifrom. his hand and caught him & jghty, buffet, so that he feil sprawling on the bodies of the five thar were dead. “Go back, fool, go back!" he cried. An Sancho, answering nothing, gathered himself up and went back, for he perceived now that not by the loss of half of his men could he get by Antonio and Beno, and be- yond them stood Tommaso, with ten whom he knew to be the stoutest of the band. “Ig's a sore day's work, Bena,” said An- tonio, looking at the dead bodies. “If a man be too great a fool to keep him- self allve, my lord, he must die,” answered Bena, and he pushed the bodies a little further hack into the neck with his foot. THen Sancho's company took counsel again, for, much as they reverenced the sacred bones, there were none of them eager to enter the neck. Thus they were at a loss, till the sheplidrd’ who had come along with them spokt'to Sancho, saying: “At'the cost of a long journey you may come at_him, for there is a way round that 1 can lead you by. But you will not traverse it in less than twelve or fifteen hours, tak- ing necessary rest by the way.” But Sancho, counting the time, sald: “It will serve! For, alinough a thousand came against him, yet the count will not burn the bones before time of his oath."” Therefore he left fifteen men to hold the neck, in case Antonio should offer to return back through it, and with the rest he fol- lowed the shepherd with great stealth and quiet; by reason of which, and of the rock between them, Antonio knew not what was to be done, but thought that the whole com- pany lay still on the other side of the neck. Thus the day wore to evening, as the arch- bishop with the Lord Lorenzo and the guards came to the spur of the hills; and here they found a man walting, who cried to them: “Do you bring the duke's promise to the Count Antonio?” “Yes, we bring it,” said they. “ am charged,” said he, “to lead the arch- bishop and one other after the count.”” But since the archbishop could not climb the hills, being old and weary, Lorenzo constrained the man to take with him four of the guards be- sides, and the four bore the archbishop along. Thus they were led through the secret tracks in the bills, and these Lorenzo tried to en- grave on his memory, that he might come again, But the way was long and devious, and it was hard to mark it, Thus going they came to the huts, and passing the huts still climbed wearily till they arrived near to the neck. It was then night, and as they guessed near on the time when Antonio had sworn to burn the sacred bones; therefore they passed on more and more, and came at last to the entrance of the neck. Here they found the 15, and Lorenzo, running up, cried aloud; “We bring the promise, we bring promise!” But scarcely had he spoken these words when a sudden great shout came from the other side of the neck, and Lorenzo, draw- ing his sword, rushed into the neck, the fit- teen following, yet leaving a space between | him and them, lest they should see him fali, | plerced by Antonio and Bena. And Lorenzo stumbled and fell over the five dead bodies which lay in the way of the neck. Uitering & cry, “What are these?’ he scrambled Lo his feet and passed unhurt through the | mouth of the neck, and the fifteen followed | after” him, while tne guard supported (he ArchbiShop in thelr hands, his chair being | too wille to pass through the neck. And | when they all thus came through, wild and | strange was the sight they saw. For it | chanced that at the time Sancho's company had eompléted their clicult and had burst from beliind upon Antonio and the twelve. | And when |'{|e twelve saw them they retreat. | ed to the pile and made a ring around it, | and stood there ready to dle rather than allow Sancho's men to reach the pile. And it was then midoight and the time of Count An- tonlo's oathi. -~ And Count Antonio stood on the top of the great pile. At his feet lay the golden casket' containing the sacred bones, and in his bhand was @ torch. And he cried these fel- the alond: “Hold them while 1 fire the pile! and he leaped down and came to the side of the pile and lald his torch to the pile, And in an instant the flames shot up, for the pile was dry, Now, when Sancho's men saw the pile alight, with shouts of horror and of terror they charged at the top of their speed against the twelve who guatded the pile. An Lo- renzo and his men also rushed, but the cries of Sancho's men, together with the answering deflance of the twelve, drowned the cries of Lorenzo, and Antgpio’ and the twelve knew not that Lorenzo was come. And the flames of the pile grew, and the highest tongue of flame licked the side of the golden casket. But Antonfo's voice rose above all as he stood, aye, almost within the ambit of the fire, and shouted: fold them a moment, Tommasino—a mo- ment, Bena, and the thing is done!” Then Lorenzo tore his casque from his head and flung down his sword, and rushed unarmed between Antonio's men and Sancho's men, shouting louder than he had thought ever to €hout: “The promize! the promise!” And at tho same moment (so it is told—1 but tell it as it is told), there came from heaven a great flash of lightning, which, a light of the flames, fully revealed the features of Lorenzo, Back fell Sancho's men, and An- tonio’s arrested their sword And then they all cried, as men cry in great joy. ‘“The promise! ‘the promise!” And for a moment all stood still where they were. And the flames leaped higher, and, as Antonio had £aid, they were seen by the great throng that gazed from the city walls, and they wero seen by Duke Valentine as he watched from the wall of his garden by the river, and he went pale, gnawing his nails, Then the Count Antonio leaped on the burning pile, though it seemed that no man could pass alive through ft. Yet God was with him and he gained the top of it and stooping seized the golden casket and flung it down, clear of the pile, even at the Lord Lorenzo's feet; and when Lerenzo sought to lift it the heat of It blistered his hands and he cried out with the pain. But Count An- tonio, choked by the smoke, his hair and his eyebrows scorched by the fire, staggered halt way down the pile and then sank on his knces. ‘And there he had died, but that Tommasino, Bena and Sancho, each eager to outstrip the other, rushed in and drew him forth, and fetched water and gave it to him, 50 that he breathed aga'n and lived. But the flames leaped higher and higher, and they sald on the city walls: “God help us! God help us! The sacred bones are burnt! And women, aye, and men, too, fell to weeping, and there was great sorrow, fear and desolat'on. And the duke gnawed his nails even to the quick, and spat the blood from his mcuth, cursing Antonio. But Lorenzo, having perceived that the greater number were against Antonlo, cried out to Sancho's men: “Seize him and bring him here!” For the duke’s promise carried To 8afety o Antonle. But Sancho answered him 3 “Now that the sagred bones are safe we have no quarrel with my Lord Antonio.” And he and his men went and laid down their swords by the feet of Antonio, where he lay on the ground; Iis head on Tommasino's lap. So that the whole band were round Antonio, and Lorenzo had but four with him. “He asks Tommasino, lord?” And Tommasino laughed, ans “Here is a drunkard of blood But Count Antonio, raising himself, said: “Is the archbishop here?"” Then Lorenzo went and brought the arch- bishop, who, coming, stood before Antonio, and rehearsed to him the oath that Duke Valentine had taken, and told him how the Lady Lucia was already free and in her own house. and made him aware also of the great tumult that had happened in the city. And Antonio listened to his tale in silence. Then the archbishop raised a hand toward heaven and spoke in a solemn and sad voice: “Behold there are ten of the duke's guard dead in the city, and thero are twelve of the townsmen dead, and here in the opening of the neck there lle dead five men of those who followed you, my lord. Twenty and seven men are (here that have died over this business. I pray more have not dled in the city since I set forth. And for what has this been done, my lord? And more than the death of all these is there, Kor these sacred bones have been foully and irrelig- fously stolen and carried away, used with vile irreverence, and brought into imminent hazard of utter destruction, and had they been destroyed and thely ashes scattered to the four winds, according to your blasphem- ous oath, I know not what would have be- fallen the country where such an act was done. And for what has this been done, my lord? 1t has been done that a proud and violent man may have his will, and that his passion may be satisfled. Heavy, indeed, is the burden of your soul, my lord; yes, on your soul s the weight of sacrilege, and much blood.” The archbishop ceased, dropped to his side. h for war?" “Shall growled Bena he not have war, to my ering: and his hand The flames on the pile were burning low, and a stillness fell on all the company. But at last Count Antonlo rose to his feet, and stood with his elbow on Tommasino's’ shoulder, leaning on Tom- masino. His face was weary and sad, and he was very pale, save where in one £pot the flame had scroched his cheek to an angry red. And, looking round on the archbishop and on the Lord Lorenzo, and on them all, he answered sadly: “In truth, my lord archbishop, my burden is heavy. For I am an outlaw, and excom- municated. Twenty and seven men have died through my ‘act, ‘and I have used the sacred bones foully ahd brougnt them into imminent peril of ‘tofal destruction accord- ing to my oath, AJl this is true, my lord. And yet ‘I know 1ot. ‘For Almighty God, whom' all we, whéther honest men or rob- bers, men of law or fitless, humbly wor- ship, Almighty God ha¥ His own scales, my lord. And I know not which thing be In those scales the heavier—that twenty and seven men should die"and the bones of the Dblessed St. * Prisian ‘$hould be brought in peril, aye, or should be utterly destroyed— or again that one weak girl, who has no protection save In the justice and pity of man, should be denled justice and bereft of pity, and that no man’should hearken to her weeping. Say, my lord, for it is yours to teach and mine to learn, which of these things should God count the greater sin? And for myself 1 have asked nothing, and for my friends here, whom I love—aye, even those T have Killed for my oath's “sake, I loved—I have dared fo ask nothing. But I asked only that justice should be done and mercy regarded. Where, my lord, is the greater sin?" But the archbishop answered not a word to Count Antonio, but he and the Lord Lorenzo came and lifted the golden casket, and, no man of Antonio's company secking to hinder them, they went back with it to the city and showed it to the people; and after the peo- ple had rejoiced greatly that the sacred bones which they had thought to be destroyed were safe the archbishop carried the golden casket back to the shrine in the village of Rilano, whero it rests till this day. But Count An- tonio buried the five men of his band whom he and Bena had slain;and with the rest he abode still in the hills, while the Lady Lucia dwelt in her own house in the city, and the duke, honoring the cath which he had sworn before all the'people, 1id not seek to constrain her to wed any man, and restored to her the estate that he had taken from her, Yet the duke hated Count Antonio the more for what he had done, and sought the more how he might lay hands on bim and put him to death, (To be Continued.) —_—— Cook's Tmperial. ~ World's Fair award, excellent champagne: good effe ence, agrecable bouguet, delicious flavor. IMPERIAL HAIR REGENERATOR. Perfectly rest skes the lustrous nd is Turkish ox . rich alr healthy, lean vaming, salt Baths do not affect v It s ai niture; does nat b wling and erlmping COLOLE Light C) Gold Iiio: Ash Bloude Price $1.00 §1.00. | & Tint'" o el v rec { Black Dark Brown. il Meal 1. Ches! 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